China Airlines jet found with 70-centimeter fracture in fuselage at Japanese airport
from the AP--some Japanese media are reporting the same exact story.
By CARL FREIRE
Associated Press Writer
TOKYO (AP) -- Airport workers in western Japan found a 70-centimeter (28-inch) fracture in the fuselage of a China Airlines Boeing 737-800, an official said Friday, weeks after a similar plane flown by the company exploded at another Japanese airport.
China Airlines maintenance workers discovered the hairline crack near the tail of the jet during a routine post-flight inspection Thursday afternoon at Saga Airport on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, Transport Ministry official Rui Mitsuma said.
No anomalies were detected during the plane's flight from Taipei, Mitsuma said.
The fracture was found about 30 minutes before the plane's scheduled departure for a return trip to Taiwan's capital, a China Airlines spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing company policy.
The airline sent another plane from Taipei to pick up the flight's 49 passengers, who left nearly 5 1/2-hours behind schedule Thursday evening, she said.
A team of inspectors and maintenance workers were dispatched from Taiwan on Friday, and are expected to arrive in Saga later in the day, she said.
Japanese aviation officials launched an investigation, Mitsuma said.
On Aug. 20, a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 that landed at Okinawa's Naha airport exploded in a fireball at a gate seconds after all 157 passengers and eight crew safely evacuated.
Investigators found a bolt on the right wing slat had come loose and pierced a fuel tank, causing fuel to gush out and catch fire.
The incident was a blow to the Taiwanese airline, which has been struggling to shake off its reputation for having a poor safety record.
Boeing officials could not immediately be reached for comment.